SAG-AFTRA has authorized its chief negotiator to potentially call for an immediate strike because of a controversy surrounding the use and treatment of AI voices in video games. Union leadership has made it clear in recent statements that they regard AI as a significant issue in the voice-acting space, and that a strike is potentially in the cards.
Per a press release, the large union is currently in the process of renegotiating the Interactive Media Agreement, the contract that many major companies in the gaming industry abide by when making big-budget games. The hypothetical revised version of the agreement would include stronger AI protections, safety precautions for on-set performances, and higher wages.
The union said that some employers have pushed back on some of the AI provisions in the new draft. In response, SAG-AFTRA authorized its national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland to call an immediate strike if they don’t reach an agreement soon. “If called, the strike shall be over all covered services under the Interactive Media Agreement and all SAG-AFTRA members will cease rendering all services and performing all work covered by the IMA,” the press release reads in part.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney posted a message of support in response to the press release, stating that the company “supports” SAG-AFTRA’s view that “game companies shouldn’t receive generative AI voice-training rights on dialog recording sessions.” Whether or not such training rights require an additional clause or contract is one of the key issues that the agreement will have to tackle.
SAG-AFTRA has mulled a strike for video game actors over the AI issue for the better part of a year now. Back in 2023, the union called for a vote to authorize a strike if necessary, and in January of this year, several of the organization’s members criticized a newly inked deal with an AI voice studio.
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